CALABRIA

Location

The last outpost of the Italian mainland before the African continent – Italy's "toe". It is a deceivingly long region from north to south and has a distinctive wild feeling possibly due to its geographical remoteness but also because of its famous mountainous landscapes of the Sila and Aspromonte massifs where snow is a regular occurrence. Surrounded by the two seas of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian, Calabria was once a prime spot for ancient Greeks to colonize, in fact they named it Enotria (subsequently extended to the rest of Italy) giving credence to its historical perfect conditions for viticulture.

Climate

Mediterranean but also influenced by extremes of altitude of the Sila and Aspromonte mountain ranges and the two seas of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian. The mountains give Calabria an enviable resource in terms of agriculture which is the abundance of water, vital in the Italian arid summers.

Topography

Extremely mountainous with poor soils, although in terms of viticulture not a lot happens in these areas. Most viticulture takes place at lower altitudes nearer the two seas of the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian.

Soils

Very mixed on the plains, fertile and rich. Very poor on the the steep mountain sides, making agriculture virtually impossible.

Production

Less than 500,000 HL

 
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Our producers

Santa Venere

Grapes

  • Description

    See Sicily

    Principle Wines

    See Sicily

  • Description

    Aka Nero d’Avola – see Sicily

    Principle Wines

    Aka Nero d’Avola – see Sicily

  • Description

    Rarely found as a varietal wine, but blended mostly in the southern most province of Reggio Calabria. Dark colour and high acidity – origins Spanish?

    Principle Wines

    Bivongi blend

  • Description

    Most Calabrians believe this to be f Greek origin, however, most pundits state a distinct lack of evidence for this and a coincidence that it is found in literature only after Phylloxera. It has an uncanny resemblance to Nebbiolo – lacking in colour but an abundance of tannin and acid … but alas none of the wines have the same charm. Some say it resembles Frappato. However, until Gaglioppo can claim world or even national acclaim to quality, real investigations will be limited. AKA Montonico Nero

    Principle Wines

    Ciro

  • Description

    There may well be some relation to the Campanian Greco other than name but the Calabrian Greco produces very different style wines. Indeed, there is some difference in the Greco Bianco Ciro and the Greco Bianco of Greco di Bianco (confusingly the Bianco part being the name of a town – typical!). The Ciro producers maintain their Greco to be high yielding and therefore needing alberello vines to be of quality. Most producers would ultimately prefer to work with the Greco di Bianco variety with comes from the province of Reggio Calabria in the far south.

    Principle Wines

    Ciro, Greco di Bianco

  • Description

    Aka Maglioccone and/or Marsigliana. This is planted extensively around Calabria and is usually blended making a more juicy component to the challenging Gaglioppo.

    Principle Wines

    Bivongi, Donnici, Lamezia

  • Description

    Aka Uva Greca. This white grape is usually blended with other local grapes. Found especially in the far south in the province of Reggio Calabria

    Principle Wines

    Bivongi

  • Description

    Quite rare white grape usually blended with others. Found in the Northern part of Calabria on the borders of Camapnia. Said to be of Sicilian origin

    Principle Wines

    Pollino, Verbicaro

  • Description

    Originally thought to be a synonym for Gaglioppo but after Librandi carried out tests, it has been shown that it is in fact quite different. Magliocco ripens later and produces a sturdier wine.

    Principle Wines

    Savuto, Lamezia

  • Description

    .. or Montonico .. or Montonico Bianco is not related to Montonico Nero which is a synonym for Galioppo. This white variety produces outstanding passito/ dessert wine especially around the area of Bianco in the province of Reggio Calabria

    Principle Wines

    Greco di Bianco

  • Description

    See Sicily

    Principle Wines

    See Sicily

  • Description

    See Sicily

    Principle Wines

    See Sicily

  • Description

    Widley planted white grape in the whole of the Calabria but used mostly in a blend adding freshness and good levels of acidity.

    Principle Wines

    Donnici

Major Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Description

    This appellation is in the south of the region, inland from the Ionian Sea. It is the only DOC of the province of Reggio Calabria and blends grapes to make a red, white and rosé.

    Principle Wines

    Rosso - Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nocera, Calabrese (aka Nero d'Avola), Castiglione, white grapes also permitted up to 15%. Bianco – Greco, Guardavalle, Montonico, Malvasia Bianca Ansonica

  • Description

    Perhaps Calabria's most famous wine, and one of Italy's most ancient, it where Calabria's more prestigious producers are located. On the east coast of Calabria, facing the Ionian sea which is very influential on their style.

    Principle Wines

    Rosso – Gaglioppo with a small addition of Greco or Trebbiano Bianco – Greco with a small addition of Trebbiano Toscano

  • Description

    In the North of Calabria in the province of Cosenza. Very mountainous and some of Calabria's highest vineyards located in valleys. Reds with some white grapes (mostly field blends) are permitted. Plus, whites and rosés.

    Principle Wines

    Rosso - Gaglioppo (aka Montonico Nero), Greco Nero, Malvasia Bianca, Pecorello, Greco Bianco. Bianco: Montonico Bianco, Greco Bianco, Malvasia Bianca, Pecorello Bianco

  • Description

    Another confusing name to watch out for – Greco is the grape used to make this white dessert wine in the town (!) of Bianco which is located in the south of the Region in the province of Reggio Calabria. It is possibly Calabria most prestigious wine, along with all the other sublime dessert wines of Italy

    Principle Wines

    Greco

  • Description

    Perhaps more famous for its airport, Lamezia, in the west, of Calabria, in te province of Catanzaro, makes reds, whites and rosés and a varietal Greco.

    Principle Wines

    Rosso: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio,Gaglioppo, Magliocco, Greco nero, Marsigliana Bianco: Greco Bianco, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca,

Sub Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Principle Wines

    Bianco
    - Greco Bianco,Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca,
    Rosso
    - Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Greco Bianco, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca

  • Principle Wines

    Rosso
    - Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Malvasia Bianca, Montonico Bianco, Guarnaccia Bianca

  • Principle Wines

    Rosso
    - Gaglioppo, Malvasia, Greco Nero, Sangiovese.

    Bianco
    - Malvasia Bianca, Greco Bianco

  • Principle Wines

    Rosé
    - Gaglioppo, Nocera, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Malvasia Nera, Malvasia Bianca and Greco Bianco

  • Principle Wines

    Rosso
    - Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Magliocco Ganino, Sangiovese, Malvasia Bianca, Pecorino

  • Principle Wines

    Rosso
    - Gaglioppo, Nerello Cappuccio.
    Bianco
    - Trebbiano Toscano, Chardonnay, Greco Bianco, Malvasia

  • Principle Wines

    Rosso
    - Gaglioppo (Guarnaccia Nera), Greco Nero, Malvasia Bianca, Guarnaccia Bianca, Greco Bianco
    Bianco
    - Greco Bianco, Malvasia Bianca, Guarnaccia Bianca

  • Lipuda
    Arghilla
    Calabria
    Condoleo
    Costa Viola
    Esaro
    Locride
    Palizzi
    Pellaro
    Scilla
    Val di Neto
    Valdamato
    Valle del Crati